Highland County, “Virginia’s Sweet Spot,” welcomes you to the 61st annual Maple Festival!

This unique celebration has been designated a Local Legacy by The Library of Congress. Visiting our sugar camps provides a unique and educational glimpse
of a rapidly vanishing way of life. Our maple producers throughout Highland County enjoy sharing this age-old process of syrup-making with you - our guests.
Be sure to stay warm with layered clothing and boots. It can get a little chilly here in March! Have fun!
Pick up a Festival Map at your first stop, and watch for signs to guide you along the way!

THE SUGAR TRAIL

1 SUGAR TREE COUNTRY STORE
Located near the center of McDowell, this operation employs
a modern reverse osmosis concentrator and oil-fired
evaporator. Informational tours all day. Antique maple
producing tools on display. Country store merchandise,
maple products, apple butter, pottery, jams, cookbooks, soy
candles, old-fashioned homemade bar soap, and handmade
rugs. Closed on Sunday.
5 PUFFENBARGER’S SUGAR ORCHARD
On Route 637 (Maple Sugar Road) southwest of Blue Grass
is Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard. A vacuum pump is used to
increase the flow of sugar water and miles of plastic tubing
make it easier to gather. The process of maple syrup-making
is started by reverse osmosis and finished by oil-fired
5 evaporators. Maple doughnuts, syrup, and other foods are
4 2 available.

2 EAGLE’S SUGAR CAMP 8 6 DUFF’S SUGAR HOUSE

Follow signs to Eagle’s Sugar Camp, located north of
McDowell off Rt. 654 (Jack Mountain Road) in Doe Hill.
Syrup producers for more than 200 years, the Eagles still use
open-pan, wood-fired evaporators as well as the latest
advanced, computerized, oil-fired evaporators. Observe
sugar water collected in buckets. Local honey, maple
products, buckwheat, cornmeal, & baked goods.
Home-cooked food and maple doughnuts. Local arts &
crafts. Tour buses welcome.
3 Located
SOUTHERNMOST MAPLE
15 miles south of Monterey on Route 607 (off US
220 at Bolar - Big Valley Road). Sugar water is gathered
with hundreds of buckets and miles of plastic tubing that
funnel the water into an evaporator. Rustic country store
with a variety of maple products, flour, honey, jellies, and
baked goods. Food: Maple pit-cooked BBQ, pork skins, and
maple doughnuts. All-you-can-eat buffet both Saturdays
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Handicapped accessible. Closed on Sunday.
WVLS 89.7 for up-to-date festival information!
4 REXRODE’S SUGAR ORCHARD
Located north of Hightown on Route 637 (Maple Sugar
Road), Rexrode’s Sugar Orchard features large maple
trees over 200-years-old. The Rexrodes use the old-fashioned
“open pan” system of evaporation as well as the
newer wood-fired evaporation method with miles of
plastic tubing to gather the sugar water. Food and maple
products available. Tour buses welcome.
7 1
6 participation is encouraged. Tours all day.
3 Anything but old-fashioned, they utilize the latest
Tune in to Alleghany Mountain Radio
additional sugar stops
Back Creek Farms - Courthouse Lawn, Monterey
Bruce’s Syrups & Candies - Main Street, Monterey
Frostmore Farm - Courthouse Lawn, Monterey
Located at Fair Lawn Farm, southwest of Monterey (3 mi.
south on U.S. 220, then 3 mi. west on Route 84), Duff’s Sugar
House is a small, family-run, old-time sugar house where
the trees are still “opened” by hand and the sugar water
collected in buckets. Cooking is done in a wood-fired open
pan and finished in an iron kettle. Hands-on
7 MILL GAP FARMS
Located within sight of Duff’s Sugar House, Mill Gap Farms
is the county’s first Certified Organic maple syrup producer.
technology from Vermont and Quebec to produce their
syrup. At their farm, you can visit their Merino Sheep,
chickens, and alpacas. Enjoy maple cotton candy and a view
of the southern Blue Grass Valley. Tours all day.
88 LAUREL FORK SAPSUCKERS
Located 10 miles west of Monterey on Clay Hise Lane (off
US 250). Laurel Fork Sapsuckers is a family-run sugar camp.
Maple syrup is made using wood-fired pans as it has been
for centuries. Some equipment used is the same as 100 years
ago! Food: Maple Hot Dogs, BBQ, pinto beans and
cornbread, maple popcorn & beverages. Country store with
arts & crafts. Tours all day. Saturday Tree Tapping
Demonstration at 11 am.